Wollongong holds ceremony to honour MH17 passengers

By
DOMINIC GEIGER AND JOSHUA BUTLER

UPDATED: A ceremony will be held at the Civic Plaza in Wollongong on Monday evening to give members of the community the chance to pay tribute to those lost aboard flight MH17.

A boy lights candles at a candlelight vigil for passengers killed on Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 in Klang Valley July 19. Picture: REUTERS

UPDATE: Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery will lead Monday night's candlelight vigil memorial service for Australian casualties of the MH17 disaster.

Wollongong City Council confirmed the Lord Mayor had invited leaders of various religious denominations to address the service, which will commence at 7pm in the Arts Precinct outside the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre.

A bell will be tolled 36 times, one for each Australian victim of the Malaysia Airlines crash.

A council spokesperson said local, state and federal politicians had been invited to the service, which is expected to run for 30 minutes.

Those attending the service are encouraged to bring a candle of their own as part of the vigil.

Flags on council buildings will be flown at half-mast from midday Monday until Tuesday morning, as well as on Saturday morning during the official national day of mourning for Australian victims.

EARLIER: A ceremony will be held at the Civic Plaza in Wollongong on Monday evening to give members of the community the chance to pay tribute to those lost aboard flight MH17.

The ceremony will begin at 7pm near the IPAC theatre.

Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said it was important to show respect on a local level for those who had died in the tragedy.

"At times like this the community needs to find direction when it's confronted with such a horrific and tragic loss," Cr Bradbery said.

"As it was with the Bali bombing, the community needs the opportunity to come together.

"It's important we create these opportunities whereby we as a community can stand together ... and affirm those values."